Kissimmee has long been “the place for Orlando travelers to stay when they’re not actually staying in Orlando”. And with good reason. The area offers tons of ultra-affordable lodging adjacent to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and every other amusement park that family travelers come to Florida to see.
However it’s surprising to many that Kissimmee also boasts a long history of ranching and real cowboy-ery. It’s an honest-to-goodness “cow town” that’s been hosting regional, world-class rodeo competitions (Silver Spurs) for more than 70 years. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the town is now the official host of the annual national championships for RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo.
The inaugural rodeo event kicks off March 25-28, 2015 at the famed Silver Spurs Arena. It’s a culmination of twelve regional competitions that have taken place throughout the U.S. over the past year.
Taglined the “Wild Wild East”, the event will feature the country’s top champion cowboys and cowgirls from each regional event. These are national caliber athletes going head to head in rodeo’s most demanding and exciting categories, including: bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, tie down roping, steer wrestling, team roping heading, team roping heeling, and barrel racing. Over the course of four days, contestants will compete for more than $1 million in cash and prizes!
Each night will feature a different theme and visitors are welcome to visit just one or attend them all:
- Wednesday: Latin Night
- Thursday: Faith and Family Night
- Friday: Military Appreciation Night (note: Country star Lee Greenwood will be opening)
- Saturday: Championship Night
Beyond the rodeo itself, the entire four-day affair will also offer a ton of family-friendly activities, including:
- The first annual Florida Heritage Barbecue Classic, sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society, with hundreds of competitors and plenty of great barbecue to sample
- Cattle Drives
- Live country music concerts
- Fan zone with fun and games
Pricing + Ticket Availability
Event takes place March 25-28, 2015. Visitors can purchase tickets to a single day or all four days, with prices ranging from $15-$35 — not bad for an entire afternoon/evening of horsing around (get it?).